Goodbye to Goldsmith and Taylor

Ellie Taylor and Stuart Goldsmith have both been eliminated from ITV’s stand-up competition Show Me The Funny.

It leaves Dan Mitchell, Patrick Monahan and Tiffany Stevenson in the running to win the biggest prize in comedy in a live final at the Hammersmith Apollo on Thursday.

The judges first unanimously agreed to send experienced Monahan through to the final after a strong gig at Blackpool, Pleasure Beach. The Irish-Iranian Geordie gushed: ‘Wow… that’s unbelievable.  Inside I just want to jump and scream.’

Former model Taylor, who spent much of her gig reading notes from her hand, was then first to be eliminated, after guest judges Cannon and Ball told her: ‘It made you look as if you were really nervous.’

Judge Alan Davies said: ‘The issue is about being really ready and I feel Ellie is a little inexperienced.’

And Kate Copstick concurred, saying: ‘I think you have gained as much as you can from this competition.’

Choking back tears, Taylor said: ‘It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it’s been brilliant...  I’m just really pleased I had a really good gig.’

Dan Mitchell was then voted through to the final with Copstick telling him in no uncertain terms: ‘If we put you through to the live final at Hammersmith Apollo will you cock it up?  If you let me down I will have your Welsh rarebits on toast!’

Finally, judges struggled to decide between Stevenson and Goldsmith until Copstick made her choice , telling Goldsmith: ‘I thought you were just back in that nice, lovely comfort zone.  Tiff took risks you didn’t and you could have.’

As he left, Goldsmith said: ‘I think I was capable of smashing it to bits tonight and I didn’t.  I know why that is, I’m my own worst enemy.’

The three now battle it out for the £100,000 first prize that also includes a DVD deal and the chance to headline a nationwide Show Me The Funny tour, which kicks off on September 17.

Mitchell said: ‘Somehow, I'm in the final, which means the Hammersmith Apollo. That is both scary and exciting. I've been preparing myself by talking nonsense to increasingly large numbers of people, working my way up from one old man to the entire population of Wales (27). Vote for me if you want someone who thinks outside the box, largely because I haven't got a box.’

Monahan – who has been branded a ‘faffer’ by Copstick – said: ‘I’m so thrilled to be in the final.  I’m hoping to put Middlesborough and the North East of England on the map and make my parents proud.’

And Stevenson said: ‘I’m very excited and nervous. It’s like I’ve taken a big laxative.  I really hope the viewers like what I do and vote for me.’

Published: 22 Aug 2011